Trends and Challenges in UK Recruitment Amid Rising Applications and AI Integration
According to the Office for National Statistics, UK job vacancies have decreased by 12% year-on-year. Despite fewer vacancies, the number of applications per role has increased significantly, rising by 65%, as reported by Tribepad data.
Recruitment is increasingly incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) to manage the rising volume of candidates. Test Gorilla uses AI video interviews to screen applicants, scoring and prioritizing about 10% of candidates for hiring managers. However, a glitch in Test Gorilla's AI video interview system was experienced by a reporter, though the company stated this affected only a very small number of candidates.
Another AI tool, Cera's Ami, launched in August, conducts phone interviews and saves recruiters approximately two days per week. Ami processes around 500,000 applications each year for a workforce of 10,000, has contributed to hiring over 1,000 individuals, and reduced screening costs by about two-thirds.
While AI screening helps manage high volumes, it tends to focus primarily on keywords, which poses the risk of overlooking broader candidate suitability and may potentially harm a company's reputation if human interaction in recruitment is minimized.
Additionally, there is growing concern over scams involving AI-generated fake job interviews, where candidates receive robotic calls and are misled.
